Bump Watch

Kate Wears Her First Maternity Dress

Toby Melville / WPA / Getty Images

Kate Middleton bowed to the inevitable last night, wearing a maternity dress in public for the first time.

Still, at somewhere between six and seven months pregnant, she can hardly be accused of not holding out as long as possible.

And she looked stunning, natch.

The royal bump was out on parade as never before as the future Queen attended an event at the National Portrait Gallery to support the charity Art Room of which she is patron.

There was an amusing moment when she came face to face with a portrait of her husband, William, and his brother, Harry.

Kate wore a specially fitted Emilia Wickstead cocktail dress and grey suede heels for the event, her third public engagement this week.

The Art Room, one of the first charities she took on as a working royal, helps school children - largely in deprived areas - to increase their self-esteem, self-confidence and independence through drawing, painting and modelling.

In a speech last night, Kate said, "I believe in the power of art to make a difference."

Kate has resisted wearing maternity gear up till now, preferring, like many expectant mums, to carry on wearing regular clothes for as long as possible.